Bittersweet and the little soap company

little things...

 

(Little Things)

by Julia A. Fletcher Carney

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the beauteous land.

And the little moments,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.

So our little errors
Lead the soul away,
From the paths of virtue
Into sin to stray.

Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make our earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.

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I was in shock when the lilac bushes began to bloom! Never in my years have I ever witnessed a fall blooming of lilacs. I'm grateful for their amazing perfume and lavender colored blooms, and regardless of what time of the year it is they are treasured. Probably even more loved when they bloom when you least expect them to. A miracle of sorts if you believe in such things and I do!

 

Little Elle has been keeping me company lately and she's such a joy to have around. Her tender heart is well tender, and she loves me beyond words, and since a dog can't really talk, her words form from looking into her eyes. Those sweet eyes! She's getting up there in years, as is her master. 

 

When I went to take Elle for her bathroom break outdoors I noticed a monarch hovering over the zinnias. I grabbed my phone to capture his or her beauty. Little things...

Between the lilacs there are pumpkins. All shapes, sizes, and colors, and I find myself admiring their faux beauty. Little things...

 

I'm half way finished with manufacturing of the holiday soaps! This is good! Very good! I'm planning on getting a jump on soap manufacturing this year. Once January and February arrive and the north wind begins to blow her horn soap making becomes finicky to say the least. My goal is to get our fall and winter soap manufacturing completed before those months come. Then I believe, fingers crossed, I can take a couple of months off from soap making. Our shop closes for a winter break and my plan is to devote my time to other things. I'm not sure what kind of other things, but other things sounds good. 

 

I've formatted the holiday soap labels and lined up the yummy seasonal scents. You may recall how Bittersweet works on winter in the summer, and spring in the winter. I've been operating this way for so long it feels normal. 

 

I believe folks are going to love our holiday packaging and special gift offerings. 

 

Meanwhile, the fall soaps are starting to hit the shop shelves! It's so uncommon for a soap shop to offer a new soap each week. So rare that I think I'll repeat that. It's so uncommon for a soap shop to offer a new soap each week. This weeks fall offering is Nag Champa and Amber. This aromatic blend will get you in the mood for fall!

 

My family has offered to help wrap soap! We're going to have a soap wrapping party this weekend! I'm thankful for their help and support, always. 

I'm proud to say that these little hands can wrap around one-hundred and twenty bars an hour! All the years of practice pays off! What we need is lots of soap! You may recall those words remembered in a children's book that I used to read to my son . I can still remember how we'd laugh and carry on about mom making soap! Little things...

 

Keep smiling.

Jill xo

 

 

the earthy season

I've always considered fall to be the earthy season. The smell of layers of fallen leaves on the moist earth omit the perfect fall scent always earthy and raw. I love that scent. I'd love to bottle it and use it to scent soap! It's officially the BER months, and I simply can't be happier that they are here. We baked a round of these last night. I have had the Magnolia Bakery Cookbook since it first came out. Not to be confused with the Texas Magnolia. This one is in New York, and even though I've never had the chance to visit I feel that having their cookbook is the next best thing to being there. I would imagine this little bakery throws off aroma's that would also be glorious bottled. If you love to bake you can pick up a copy of their cookbook. You won't be disappointed. I also love their vanilla cupcake recipe. It looks like they have several cookbooks available now. Way to go girl! 

We're planning an old fashioned fall open house next week. I'm hoping that the pumpkins will be out at the patch and the mums budding at the mum farm. It's probably a tad bit early, but hopefully I can locate a few for our fall gathering. It's a jaunt over the hills and through the woods, but worth the trip! I remember when I used to have my radio show, and one of the first ones I went on and on about how plump and fat those mums are! Laughing... If you've ever watched any episodes of Saturday Night Live with the two ladies chatting on the radio, that was me only cornier. Those were the days! Not that long ago, but it feels like a lifetime. 

We're getting in so many unique items in for fall. I've decided to start a live offering of some of our items. It seems that everyone is selling items live nowadays. I'm not one to follow trends, but I do believe with our limited shop hours it might be convenient for folks to shop at home when they don't have time to shop in person. The next best thing, I think. I shop a lot online. I buy shoes, clothing and most of the items that are offered in our shop, minus the Bittersweets. We make about eighty-five percent of our inventory so we don't have a large inventory of wholesale items. 

The Safari Bain Soap is wrapped and on the shelves. This scent is intoxicating and very much reminds me of Africa. It's earthy and warm with many layers. Quite opposite of our other new line, Sunday Morning which is fruity with vanilla and musk. Both extremely yummy to the nose! If I don't mind saying...

+ a new fragrance that holds onto summer while wrapping itself in fall. Indian Summer. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, and crispy nights. Indian Summer is another new favorite. I've developed a new room spray in this lovely scent. It has staying power and linger long after you spritz. 

Alice Bracelet... When I make them a sense of completion comes over me. Named after my sweet soft spoken mom, Alice. She used to make beaded necklaces when I was a young girl. I always loved that my mom made things. She was crafty and creative and very talented. A published writer. Her daughter lacks in the latter, but grows more on the crafty side. I do believe these traits are passed down. After all I'm a fourth generation soap maker! What more proof do you need?

The Elderberry Elixir... We're honored and thrilled to carry this natural remedy. I call it this because of the countless times it's kept me well or lessened a cold. I'm a believer. I mentioned in our last post and the one before about the Elderberry Honey we're stocking as well. Both are staples in our medicine cabinet in the fall and winter months. I feel like a bear preparing for winter. Nesting they call it. Fall nesting. Do you get it? The excitement of burning a new fall candle or the chance to pull out a jacket or scarf. 

P. S. I love you!

First let me say, I'm not a typical Pumpkin Spice fan, however I must also add that not all Pumpkin Spice are created equal. Bittersweet's Pumpkin Spice is not your average Pumpkin Spice. At the shop we can blend from our scent your own and the soap is available for at least a few days before we sell out. We are selling it so quickly that we can't list it on our web shop. A good problem for a soap company to have, but I must admit that I feel bad for those that are not local and able to shop our store. 

I shot the living room capture from our stairwell. The photo shows how a fall spring and a few faux pumpkins can instantly maneuver a space into fall. I also switch out my pillow covers to leather. I love the color and texture in fall decorating.

I purchased some tiny solar lights to wrap around our deck. I was like a kid and couldn't wait for it to get dark to see them! They're not super bright, but offer a warm light at night. I sat outside and admired them for some time. The crickets were chirping and an owl was hooting in the distance. I love nature! We're so lucky to be able to sit and enjoy the great outdoors in the comfort of our home. I never take these things for granted. 

Lastly, a Fall Soap Menu...

It's not in order, but the menu of warm and spicy soaps will be hitting our store shelves in the weeks to come. I'm hoping to be able to list some of them on our web shop. We sell a lot of soap at our store so it's a matter of the soap maker and manager of Bittersweet being able to keep up. Typically we will sell out of our fall soaps within a few days. 

Keep Smiling. 

Jill xo 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If it feels good, do it!

Back in the day, Hippie days to be exact, folks would always say, If it feels good, do it! You may have heard this phrase but really didn't know what it meant.  

When I say it my meaning kind of takes on a tad bit different than the original. Minus all the phycologists and folks analyzing what other's say or mean. Yeah, we won't go into that. When those words come out of my mouth I simply mean if something makes you feel good, don't listen to if it's the proper time, place, or situation, just do it! Does that make sense? Probably not, but if I could explain in person it would. 

If you want to start your fall decorating, just do it! There's no right or wrong time just because someone says it isn't. Follow your if it feels good, do it thinking, and don't follow anyone else.

I can't help myself with this fall decorating! I'm not a fan of Halloween so much, but given an opportunity to infuse shades of cinnamon and pumpkin into our home I go for it! Between soap making, which by the way, is nonstop this time of year. The oils are cooling as I type! After mentioning cinnamon, I'm leaning towards creating a Warm Vanilla Cinnamon that will probably be included in our Twelve Days of Christmas collection. What! First talk of fall and now Christmas! No, you mustn't ! You simply must not! Welcome to the wonderful world of manufacturing. I love it! Even more so t then I did some twenty-four years ago! Counting my blessings one by one...

I shot a soap wrapping video the other day, and I couldn't help but think about how valuable my hands are and that I'm thankful that they're strong and flexible and able to wrap and label two bars of soap in less than a minute. Yes, I have timed it! That calculates to over one-hundred bars in an hour! 

I know that I mentioned ordering in some of that gooey and delightful nectar on the last post, but it's worth repeating! By the way, other's love it as much as I do! I can see it, a fall basket filled with aromatic soaps and that honey! We have the golden goodness available in small, medium and large sizes. A size for everyone!

Although I'm not a fan of faux leaves, twigs, etc., the fall hued money plant got my attention. I picked up several sprigs at our local hobby store. Of all the choices available those stood out from the fall crowd. I'm particularly fond of their height. It's so interesting how size and scale play into a design. Both can make or break a finished look. 

Something as simple as a packet of soaps can be easy to the eye. However, they require special packaging so as with most collections that Bittersweet offers, they're only here briefly. Short but sweet...

We received a shipment of jackets from my favorite jacket manufacture last week. The colors are a modern take on fall colors. Soft blush blends so nice with goldens and rusts. You might not think that until you put them together. 

I've always admired maker's of earthenware. The process of shaping the clay to create a useful vessel has always been appealing to me. It's right up my alley! I remember dabbling with pottery in art class, but it never felt natural to me, so I left the art up to folks that do. I recall a funny pottery time when whatever I was trying to make flew though the air! It's always a good practice that if you fail at something not to give up, but after the flying pottery incident, I did!  I'm always amazed with the artists choice of colors, shapes, and designs. When I spotted these small vases it was love at first site! The small vases fit into minimal design. Add a sprig of fall to the tiny vase to create a fall motif on a shelf or table. 

We also added some cool leather jewelry to our Safari Bain Collection. It wasn't a surprise when we sold out within a few days! I have put in another order, and can't help but feel that the unique light weight pieces will quickly become favorite's and go-to pieces. 

I'm off to do this thing called soap making. 

Keep smiling. 

Jill xo

 

 

design by design

Spring is here! Change a corner!

During my decorating frenzy at home I'm realizing how important it is to start with a small corner as a starting point to complete the rest of the room. Small corners are, well small, and they offer a great beginning so that you don't get overwhelmed and confused as you work your way around decorating a room. Also, when you start decorating a small corner it's amazing how the colors and textures blend into a smooth transition. 

This is how I design my shop. I always start with a corner. 

Black...

It's a great grounding color to use in your space. You should always have a least one black piece! I've been leaning towards  more than one black piece lately. It's super easy to change the paint color of a piece of furniture or picture frames to change a space. Another reason to love small corners! You can easily make a few inexpensive changes like what I just mentioned and transform the look.  

Source: 

Black Shelf Brackets

Raw Wood Shelving

Black Frames

Milk Paint

Hand Loomed Throw

Dried Grass

Pictures were switched to black and white on Photoshop and then sized to 8 x10 and ordered here. 

I'm slowly moving into the kitchen. My office sits right off the kitchen and there is a small pantry across from my office space. I have a vintage Hoosier cabinet that houses my office supplies and I'm going to continue to use it because I love the functionality of the piece. I also believe that it's a good thing to utilize pieces that you already have.   I'm re-organizing both areas to my liking. I'll be sharing pictures and ideas as I move closer to completing the areas.  

We enjoyed visiting with dads that visited the shop shopping for Mother's day gifts this past week. I'm always impressed with their choices. Even more impressed when the kids tag along and pick out soaps for their moms. They seem to have a six sense on which ones mom would love! I also enjoy watching them choose the perfect flavor and packaging. Little things...

I put together some special Mother's day soap packaging, but fell short of offering more than a few because they sold as quickly as I could design them! The nature of handmade...

My mom. She was soft spoken and smart among many other things. She was a published writer, decorator, chef, and gardener. Her talents were too numerous to count. She passed on some of those talents to her daughter. I feel forever grateful that God chose her to me my mom! She named my business those many years ago, and helped to shape Bittersweet to who she is today. Did I mention how beautiful she was? She was that as well!

It's been officially announced...

Our Porch Sale will kick off on Thursday, June 3 and continue until June 12. The once in a lifetime sale will take place on our shop porch during our business hours Thursday through Saturday. 12 pm - 4 pm. So, Thursday - Saturday the first week and then Thursday - Saturday the second week. 

This sale is an offering of merchandising pieces that we have used to decorate or shop over the past few years. A collection of home goods and items that customers have often admired and asked us if they were for sale. Now they are for sale! We are continuously switching out pieces and adding new ones in our shop and our storage room is overflowing with lamps, baskets, and other amazing items that we simply cannot continue to take up valuable space in our back room. Please Note: We are not offering soaps, sundries or items that are currently in our shop. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill xo

 

 

 

 

 

cabin fever

Here at Bittersweet, we're dreaming about Spring! As I gaze out my office window the landscape has been transformed to white and it's so darn cold it feels as though I'm living in the Arctic! What better than to dream about spring. I can feel it, Cabin Fever! Every February it arrives without fail. It's time to take some cabin fever medicine!

We're working on some layout design for a new launch. The New Collection is wrapped in all things cozy and warm and soothing. 

Winter does have its perks even if you reside in the Artic! 

The New Bedtime Fragrance line is infused with lavender and other yummy blends prescribed at bedtime, but definitely not limited to the evening hours. I just can't help but imagine filling my old tub with this aromatic fragrance and then slipping on a pair of silky pajamas before propping the feather pillows and topping my bed with an extra blanket. A stack of books adds perfection to the visual image!

Another positive thought during the dead of winter, you can visit Bittersweet and create an aromatic new body essential. Meet my sweet little friend, Ava! She's definitely an Apothecary Girl! The Bittersweet Perfumery is also a highlight in the dead of winter!

Behind the scenes at the studio and I'm putting the finishing touches on our New Rose Water Moisturizer. It's rich and creamy and smells so good! It's part of our Spring 21 launch and we're excited to release it in a few weeks!

Our Soap Cabinet is beginning to fill with our freshly wrapped New Soaps!

I can't leave without saying, Go Chiefs!

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

Wrap that soap, girl!

Wow! It seems most of you are knocking out your Christmas lists early this year! In fact, we've never seen this kind of surge in early shopping. We know it's not a year like any other. It's all keeping me on my toes, and I'm doing everything possible to keep up with wrapping and early releases. 

This week we're offering an early release of our Numbers 3 and 4. Three French Hens is dipped in sweet orange, cranberry, vanilla, and a hint of cinnamon. Four Calling Birds is scented with pure rosemary and eucalyptus. 

I'm wrapping five and six this week and it may be that we'll be offering the next two soaps early too. 

I've updated our website and make every attempt to keep our inventory well-stocked, but since everyone is shopping early we are selling out of items quickly. 

If I might be as bold as to say, if you wish to share an offering of Bittersweet this holiday to friends and family I'm encouraging you to order and shop early, as items are disappearing at lightning speed! I had a feeling that this was going to happen, but nothing prepares one for such things. 

Our Marshmallow Lip Balm is back! We'll also be introducing two new Lip Balm Flavors in the next few weeks. I'm leaning toward Cinnamon and Mint Chocolate Chip. Both will be amazing!

We've also introduced a new fragrance, Joy to the World. The complex scent of cranberry, orange, vanilla, and amber is nothing short of amazing! We can hand blend this scent to create a body spray, room spray, dry oil, or bath salt. 

We're also offering a collection of special packaging pouches and bags, and a unique assortment of gift-giving combinations. Since we're selling out so quickly on our holiday soaps these are limited as well. 

That's the scoop!

Notice the sign that we have in our store. Keep that thought centered around the holidays.

Keep the faith.

Jill 

autumn skies

Autumn is celebrated at our store but the season is brief. 

We move pretty quickly into the holiday season simply because our inventory revolves around the items we make. Those artisan goods are celebrated by showcasing and offering them front and center at our store.

This year it feels absolutely perfect to keep everything simple. 

I counted the days that our store is open and we're down to thirty more days until Christmas! Thirty days just doesn't seem like a very long time, and indeed it is not. 

In a few weeks I'll wrap up the manufacturing of Holiday Soap and this year's soap making will come to a close. 

It certainly has been an interesting year filled with many surprises and unexpected twists and turns. 

As a small business owner, I've jumped on and rode her the best that I could. I got bucked off a couple of times, but my stubbornness, passion, and determination have helped me to stay focused and not waver on the important things. All of which are different for each person on this planet. When you discover what's important in your life, everything else falls into place. 

Before we get too ahead though we're looking at creative ways to shop our store both inside and out. 

We feel it's good to have a plan  A and a plan B sitting on the sidelines. 

Meanwhile, our Pumpkin Spice Soap arrives this week and we've been brewing up some amazing new Perfumes and Body Scents that we can't help but think are brightening up our lives. 

Keep the faith.

Jill 

 

 

courage

I've been thinking about how things have changed and how there's a movement of courage that seems to have grown in all of us in the past six months. Do you know what I'm referring to? 

During this time of evaluating and examining and being creative, I also feel a shift in how I feel about my store.  I've always wanted guests to experience our store while turning on all six senses, but recently I have also begun pondering how our Modern Apothecary Store should leave you with feelings of happiness and joy. I want your visit to live on, while memories of fondness carry you through until your next visit. That the next time you call, there's a bounty of fresh merchandise and extraordinary displays that get you excited all over again! I've always felt this, but in today's climate, those feelings are more intense. 

Since I've been focusing on those thoughts I have an exciting new perspective. Those new feelings have a positive vibe associated with precise anticipation. I have mentioned in past posts how that is one of my favorite words. The moment in which, well here's the definition.

Definition of anticipation

 The act of looking forward especially: pleasurable expectation looked forward with anticipation to their arrival

 visualization of a future event or state

 

Building up to one's anticipation has always been a feeling that stands out even when I was a young girl, and I've grown to appreciate the uncertainty and sometimes quirky behavior associated with anticipation. Taking it for face value and not putting too much thought into it. 

I know what you're thinking... Here she goes again with her philosophical discussions!

I'm just saying thoughts of what is to come or not come really aren't significant to one's happiness. Something to think about...

Oh boy, we have some exciting new ideas for Fall, Winter! 

Our Holiday Soap production has started and the scents of apple, pine, cranberries, cinnamon, sweet orange, vanilla, peppermint, are thick in the studio air. 

I just calculated and put the final check marks on a strategic soap manufacturing plan that will fulfill the supply and demand needed to fulfill stock inventory at both our store and web site.  It helps to lessen the hustle and bustle of the holiday season at Bittersweet. Since it takes four to six weeks for Bittersweet to cure that period of time is always tallied and double-checked to ensure the safe arrival of our Twelve Days of Christmas Soap. The next seven weeks or so will be full speed ahead and in between shop duties and other store proprietress obligations, the wooden soap spoon will be whipped around hundreds of times! It's the season of soap!

 

We just released our latest Golden Harvest and the week before, one of our favorite fall blends, Persian Pear. 

We're building castles in the air as we put the finishing touches on Holiday packaging ideas and new merchandising displays. 

A shipment of cozy sweaters and leather boots will be arriving next week! Considerate planning and well-thought ideas circulate to which merchandise is a good fit for our store along with thoughts of items that are rare but essential and practical all in one. I'm a practical girl!

You are going to love it all!

The zinnias are beginning to fade from summer and autumn is making her way forward. 

An Alice Bracelet may not change your life, but it will definitely make you smile! They make me smile when making them because they're named after my sweet soft-spoken mom, Alice!

   Our Essential Oil Cleanse is used to clean our store. When entering our store the aroma of Clove, Cinnamon, Lemon, Rosemary, and Eucalyptus fills the air. This purifying blend soothes your mind and your soul. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

 

 

 

simple pleasures

A bounty of petite gourds certainly did put a smile on my face! If you study each tiny pear or apple-shaped plant you'll shine with admiration for their unique beauty. Then again, I'm a sucker for natural elements and especially fond of incorporating such things into seasonal displays. 

This past week the store has been blossoming into fall.

We have been receiving new shipments of clothing and accessories and we began releasing new fall flavors. Autumn is always an exciting time at Bittersweet. 

The soft scent of Persian Pear will get you in the mood for fall! We offer this amazing scent in a variety of bathing essentials including Bath Salt.

This Dry Oil or Liquid Lotion may be scented with this aromatic fall fragrance. 

I mentioned my fondness for this scroll a few posts ago. I love this little poem! I'm curious about who wrote it?

The Fiddle Leaf Figs are needing a trim. A customer shared this method with me this week. I'm going to give it a try. 

I hope you're taking in some downtime and enjoying the simple pleasures that life offers. 

Keep the faith. 

Jill 

 

 

Light Layering

Even though our store is small it houses over fifty lamps and pendants! That sounds crazy, right? Think again. If you caught my last post that mentioned the bam that texture adds to a room so does lighting. We always refer to lighting as a mood enhancer because the proper lighting can transform a room no matter how big or small the room is. 

There isn't a day go by that I don't get the question, where do you get your lamps? Honestly, sometimes it's easier to purchase two lamps rather than twenty from a wholesaler, and so when I'm out and about I'm always on the look-out for cool lamps. Even if I'm not really needing new lamps my mind is always open to spot them because like I said, lighting can change the look of a room instantly!

I also have a trick that you'll love. I have learned that it's easy to get overwhelmed in a lamp department. Here's my trick to finding the lamp that will become your favorite when you take it home. Stand back and gaze upon the rows of lamps. I mean really stand back and look at the lamps as though you're choosing a shirt or dress. Once you spot one that you're fond of take it from the shelf and place it alone on a store display or table. Now stand back and look at the lamp. This lamp choosing technique sounds easy as pie, right? You will be surprised at how when the lamp is modeled it looks different. There have been times that I've fallen in love with a lamp that sits amongst other lamps, but when I place it on its own, it doesn't turn me on! Try this technique the next time you are shopping for lamps. I promise it will shed new light on lamp shopping! Sorry, I couldn't resist using the puns! I also forgot to tell you that when you set the lamp on its own so that you can get a closer look, you might just get a few stares and curious bystanders will wonder what on earth you're doing!  No worries, they're probably thinking, why haven't' I done that!

I've been knee-deep in genealogy research! I'm planning a trip to Scotland down the road and I'm searching for links to my family members that resided in a few Scottish Castles. The castles still stand and I can't wait to walk on the same ground as my sixteenth great grandfather. I'm sticking with my father's side in my search so the lineage would be restricted to my great grandfathers. I did however also find that one of the clan chiefs brothers resided in a different castle. It's all very interesting and consumes much of my time. It's something I've yearned to do forever, so it feels great to finally uncover the hidden truths about my family's heritage. It will be a lot of fun to know my forefather's exact landmarks and locations when I arrive in Scotland. I know it will feel as though I'm coming home!

In between all that research, comes fall-winter manufacturing!

Our studio is filled with spicy scents that help me to get in the mood for fall. Our hot summer days have been replaced with cooler north wind mornings and you can feel that autumn is not far away!

We're also heavy into making lotion bars and facial serums!

As the weather turns cooler bath time becomes a pleasurable thought!

Keep the faith.

Jill